Realizing your BIG Dream – How to Get Out of Your Own Way

Are you where you want to be in life and in business?  No matter where you are, chances are there’s something you’re still striving for in some aspect of your life.  My clients come to me when they need help to get where they want to go.  Most of us can take things to a certain point on our own, but then we need a little help to push through to the next level.  That’s what I do for my clients – whether the push they need is personal or professional, we always start by answering 3 questions – Where are you now?  Where do you want to go?  How are you going to get there?

It sounds pretty simple, doesn’t it?  But if it’s so easy, then we must all be doing what we love and be where we want to be, right?

But we’re not…

So why is that?

There are probably as many different answers to that as there are people, but the common thread is that we are simply standing in our own way.  We’re more than capable of doing the things we dream of, but we tend to shoot ourselves in the butt when it comes to execution.

The list may look a little different for you, but here are a few common ways we stand in our own way:

• Resisting change and refusing to adapt to new technologies or seek outside expertise.
• Burning ourselves out because we refuse to delegate or outsource tasks we should no longer be doing.
• Being afraid of failure – what will “they” say?
• Playing small – we know we are capable of more, but we play small so we don’t draw attention or criticism to ourselves.
• Missing out on opportunities because we’re overanalyzing EVERYTHING.  Can you say analysis paralysis?
• Trying to do everything ourselves and doing none of it well.
• Spending too much time on things that don’t move the needle.
• Throwing ideas at the wall and seeing what sticks; winging it.
• Not tracking results for the key areas of our businesses.

Did anything on the list hit close to home for you?  If you’re being honest with yourself, I’m sure there were a few, and others you’ve probably added.  Trust me, we’ve all been there, but at the end of the day…

The only person standing between you and your biggest dreams is….YOU!

I know you know this intellectually, so then why is it so hard to get out of your own way? 

I believe a large part of it comes down to safety and security – the devil you know vs the one you don’t.  It’s why we stay stuck in situations that don’t serve us.  It’s why we don’t do the things we know will take us to the next level.  In a weird sort of way, we’re afraid of our own success and we find ourselves in an unconscious cycle of self-sabotage.   I’m sure you’ve heard this referred to as imposter syndrome, limiting beliefs, staying in your comfort zone, and a number of other phrases, but what we call it isn’t what really matters.  What DOES matter is the fact that YOU have the ability to do something about it. 

Remember, the only person standing between you and your biggest dreams is YOU!

So what can you do to get out of your own way?

First, I would say to give yourself some grace.  You’re human and are bound to fall into these traps at one time or another, but what you do to get out of them is what really matters!  Here are some ideas:

1. Recognize and Challenge Negative Self-Talk: Start by becoming aware of your self-limiting beliefs and negative self-talk. When you catch yourself thinking or saying something negative about yourself, challenge those thoughts by asking for evidence or reframing them in a more positive and realistic way.
2. Celebrate Your Achievements: Keep a record of your wins, big or small. Regularly review and acknowledge them, which will reinforce your competence and boost your self-confidence.
3. Share with a Friend or Mentor: Talk to trusted friends or mentors about your experiences and feelings of self-doubt. They can offer encouragement and perspective, and help you gain a more realistic view of your abilities.
4. Embrace a Growth Mindset:  Adopt a growth mindset, believing that abilities and skills can be developed through effort and learning.  View challenges as opportunities for growth, and see setbacks as learning experiences rather than personal failures. 
5. Set Realistic Goals: Break down your larger goals into smaller, more manageable tasks. Setting realistic and achievable goals will allow you to make progress, build confidence, and recognize your competence along the way.
6. Cut yourself some Slack: Treat yourself with kindness and compassion. Acknowledge that everyone makes mistakes and experiences self-doubt at times. Be gentle with yourself when facing challenges or setbacks, and practice self-care to get yourself back on track.
7. Seek out Professional Help: Working with a coach is a great way to help you move your dreams forward by infusing some structure and accountability, but if imposter syndrome or limiting beliefs are significantly impacting your daily life, relationships, or overall well-being, consider seeking guidance from a mental health professional who can provide personalized strategies and support to address underlying issues and help you develop a healthier mindset.

You have the power within you to accomplish your biggest goals and dreams, but you’re going to have to really want it and be willing to do the work to make it happen.

With distractions and obligations pulling at you from every direction, you need to be able to stand your ground and commit to getting quiet long enough to assess where you REALLY are, where you want to go, and how you’re going to get there. 

I’ve created a 5 day Challenge to help you get out of your own way and start making progress toward your biggest dreams. It’s called The TRUTH to POWER challenge.  By doing the work over a five-day period, you will name your biggest dreams, identify what is standing in your way, uncover the truth about those obstacles, and outline the steps you will take each day to move your biggest dreams forward. There is no magic bullet, but if you do the work and stay focused, your biggest dreams can and will become your reality.  If you’re interested in getting out of your own way, you can join the TRUTH to POWER Challenge here.

If Knowledge is Power, then Application of that Knowledge is Authority. You can gather up all the knowledge you want, but you won’t reap the benefits and establish the authority you need with yourself to reach your highest goals and dreams until you APPLY that knowledge. Even when armed with the knowledge of what it will take to accomplish our dreams, many of us never stop long enough to be still and commit to actually DOING THE WORK.  We are so busy running around, doing all the things, that we fail to do the real work that will help us push through to the next level where we will be able to realize our biggest goals and dreams. You can take the first step today by joining the TRUTH to POWER Challenge.

Getting out of your own way means being humble enough to realize when you can’t do it all on your own. Sometimes you can, but sometimes you just can’t.  Be open to the possibility of finding someone to help you bridge the gap between where you are and where you want to be.  Whether that someone is me or someone else, it’s most important that you are honest with yourself and seek the help you need. Your dreams aren’t going to materialize out of thin air, so you’ve gotta do the work to help them along.😉

I am a consultant, mentor, operations manager, business coach, accountability buddy and life coach all rolled up into one. My main goal is to help you thrive, grow, and live a more fulfilled and successful personal and professional life, whatever that looks like.  With my diverse array of skills, I bring a lot more to the table than your typical consultant, coach, or mentor.  I love being able to leverage my business, personal development, and life experience to help you create the life you want – the one where your business is a blessing to you, and not a curse.  My “help” can look like a short series of a coaching calls or a long-term consulting arrangement, or a number of other combinations, but hopping on a call is always the place to start.  If you’d like to see if I’m the right fit for you and your dreams, let’s hop on a free 30 minute zoom call. Here’s the link to schedule: Schedule Call

Oh, and by the way, you can use the TRUTH to POWER CHALLENGE to make progress on even the smallest things in your life. If getting your house cleaned every week is something you’re struggling with, for example, you can follow the framework outlined in the challenge to help you make a clean house your reality! 😉